White House asked VA secretary about running Pentagon if Trump fires Esper

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NEW: White House officials have talked to Veterans Affairs Sec. Wilkie about taking top Pentagon job should President Trump decide to fire Defense Sec. Esper, 3 senior administration officials say.

about taking the top Pentagon job should Trump decide to fire Esper, three senior administration officials said.

Two senior administration officials said Trump discussed the position directly with Wilkie at the White House last month. Two other senior administration officials said Wilkie had senior-level discussions with the White House about becoming Trump's next defense secretary.— a Senate-confirmed member of Trump's Cabinet — the acting defense secretary if the president fires Esper, officials said.

Wilkie was one of several possible replacements for Esper whom the White House informally interviewed this summer about serving as defense secretary, two current officials and one former official said. The conversations took place as Trump's monthslong threats to fire Esper intensified, officials said. The option of naming Wilkie as acting Pentagon chief would give Trump the flexibility to remove Esper immediately after the November election, if not before.

Two senior administration officials said Trump has not entirely ruled out the possibility of making a change in Pentagon leadership before the election, although some of the president's allies have cautioned him to wait until after. Two senior administration officials said there are no current plans for Esper to be removed before the election.Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.

 

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No wonder he’s kissing Trumps ass right now

True face of Biden’s best friend China.

How many more administration changes does this president need in order to run the government. Seems like every other day he changes people around or fires them or they just plain leave. Does this tell you anything about POTUS?

What sort of demagoguery is trump cooking up now?

You left out... Into the ground...

This administration has been a dumpster fire since day one.

Crooks in action

Why? Esper won't support Trump's plan to declare Martial Law?

He has got to have people who will obey his unconstitutional orders when the time comes. You say the grunts are on your side trump. I don't think you can pay them enough to sell out their country.

Esper actually has a brain and makes good sense. So Trump is jealous!

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That would be a HORRIBLE move. It’s appalling he’s continuing to play politics with the DOD. I’m not an Esper fan, at all, but I know for a fact he has pushed back on issues with Trump in the last couple of weeks. LEAVE THEM ALONE.

Recently I received an online notice that I have been put on the Trump 2020 enemy list of internet politicians. They're monitoring me over at the White House. My followers and I will always stand up for what they hate, the truth! Follow Stay Updated / Keep Watching Big Brother

I guess it's better than Tata 🤷🏻‍♂️

think he,s right lmao he.s a joke

Why would he fire Esper? He can't keep anyone in any position for long because Trump is the worst manager - zero leadership skills, strategy or coalition building. He's GOT TO GO!

Well, we should have known that wasnt gonna last long especially after the enactment of flags allowed on military bases..

Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Thank you Biden

👇😭😭😭😭

Wilkie would be a fool to take the job!!!

With 55 days til election and under severe criticism for a contemptuous attitude toward's nation military, our Dear Leader should mos def fire Esperanto. Perhaps install his fav Eddie Gallagher in the slot.

tRump only hires the best people eh? All that have ever been hired by him have one thing in common....obviously the worst boss ever!

Trump is weakening the Military like he did the USPS.

This guy was a p*ssy on the streets, and now he uses intimidation tactics to assert power. He sniffed out the weaknesses in the American political system, and like a true parasite, he leached on. And he's exposed the pettiness of the 40% of America responsible for why it's dying

TrumpHatesOurMilitary

ETTD

Umm😭😭😭

And the beat goes on...

These are our top Military personnel that Trump is playing Musical Chairs with.

DonnyT is 'Exasper'ated with Esper. So he's going to appoint another 'acting' rump kisser that'll obey his commands and start his reelection war without reservations. And don WILL fire Esper BEFORE the election bc he's been advised NOT to. And he hates following advise.

Trump the Coward. Rules again.

Wimpy Wilkie? Nnnoooooooo!

Oh that explains wilkies high praise of Trump. Oh my all the web of lies we web. Its pretty sad no one likes Trump uncondotionally, not a single soul not even his kids. Thats a pretty sad existence.

MoBea O

MoBea

Fire defense secretary esper he shouldn't have been hired in the first place just like Donald Trump he's never been in the military how in the hell is he our defense secretary he was appointed by Trump

Trump is the most incompetent President in American history!

Whelp...

🙄TrumpAdministration

Wow another breaking story with more anonymous sources. 🥱

What a clusterfuck this administration is! Chaotic, unprincipled and stupid.

Sounds like Wilkie is in the barrel.

If he takes the job he only has to hang on to it for 62 days

let me guess... no name source

So the VA Secretary is more of a sycophant than the Secretary of Defense. Trump can’t stand to be around a competent person. That’s why his administration is so inefficient and in chaos. TrumpIsANationalDisgrace TrumpIsACompleteFailure

Espers been doing his dirty work, why he fire him?

Hopefully he’ll just have a very short stint.

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Firings and resignings are the crux of the Trump administration

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Lawd!!🤦🏽‍♀️votebidenharris2020

Most incompetent administration ever.

I wonder what Esper has on him ? He only gets rid of people that don't kisss his ass. Thats why McConnell & Barr will never be fired

Vote JoeBiden KamalaHarris realDonaldTrump must be STOPPED No QAnons in Congress guncontrol not more guns endgunviolence TrumpHatesVeterans TrumpHatesOurTroops TrumpHatesOurMilitary TrumpIsATraitor

Trump needs to fire himself as President.

Shocking. The guy comes out in support of Trump when he’s caught disrespecting veterans and now he is in line for a promotion. Quid Pro Quo.

Looks like “Yes Sir” Esper wasn’t enough of a subservient lapdog to Trump

American social media, including Twitter and it's 'main contributors' (MSM) are WAY more effective at stirring up discord (and spreading propaganda) than Russia, China, Iran or anyone else ever could be. ~Just saying.

RT : White House officials have talked to Veterans Affairs Sec. Wilkie about taking top Pentagon job should President Trump decide to fire Defense Sec. Esper, 3 senior administration officials say.

Let's see *checks card* I have Sessions, Mattis, Shulkin, Tillerson, Zinke, Kelly, Nielsen, Price,and Acosta. If Esper leaves, I'll have Trump Cabinet Turnover Double Bingo!

Not going to happen. Look elsewhere.

He has ordered a coup?

If he thinks any general will obey an illegal order he has another thing coming. I might be retired but I hope that the Service senior enlisted will defend the constitution always. ABC CBSNews CNN MSNBC CNBC DeptVetAffairs

GOP FoxNews Trump2020 BigBrother BLM LaborDay2020 BidenHarris2020 MAGA2020

Be nice if we had a government which would insist on confirming anymore of Donny’s temps. SpeakerPelosi SenSchumer senatemajldr

Good.

TRUMPTANIC

See what happens when you on Sunday shows and talk nice about donnie?

Well, that explains his boot-licking today.

PrincessBravato This decision means no one any good. He is trying to 'tie the hands,' of Congress, for The Upcoming Transition of Power. He has already appointed nearly 200 justices in every level of government. He is working OT, encasing his 'crew.'

Well that explains Wilkie’s lies and Esper’s tweets. There is not an honorable manor woman anywhere in Trump’s orbit. So disgusting!

GiGicmka TrumpChaos

NBCInvestigates The Trump Administration is the Peter Principle in real time.

Isn't this just proof that they are planning to win aka cheat? They are acting like there wont be an election in less than 60 days.🤔

He is the worst man for the job

Both traitors working for conman traitor in chief

Poor Secretary 'Yessir.'

Esper 👉 KochNetwork

So esper is going to see the door. Will he remain a loyalist?

He licked pretty hard yesterday so I’m sure he’s in.

Rearranging the deck chairs on a boat that's already lying on the bottom of LakeTravis. BidenHarrisLandslide2020

Huh......just AFTER Wilkie came out yesterday defending TrumpHatesVeterans. Guess he passed the Trump loyalty test! TraitorInChief VoteHimOut BidenHarrisToSaveAmerica

Esper won’t use the military to keep Trump in power. Wilkie is a liar with pro-Confederate associations (which make him a traitor to the US) & will probably do Trump’s bidding.

Is there anyone that 45 WON'T eventually fire? I'm just waiting for him to fire Pence!

Trump said veterans are losers & suckers He denied it. But he denied calling McCain a loser, which he did on video. He also said he called Melania at home to say how much he wanted to go to the cemetery, but SHE WAS WITH HIM IN FRANCE. Trump's denial contains TWO LIES. TrumpLies

This whole thing is being as well-run as one of his now-bankrupt casinos.

Another person following the law and because trump is a dictator this man is about to treated like a game show contestant. TraitorTrump

Is this because he didn’t refute the Atlantic story?

Here's Trumps new business investment idea. He has a lot of experience with both. His administration staffing and his favorite food.

Irresponsible leakers.

This article is probably how Esper found out he is about to be replaced.

Maybe Esper will quit being a lackey for trump and speak truth to power.

“Should President Trump decide to fire”. The Narcissistic Megalomaniac is at it again 🙄

Here we go again. Somebody disagrees with Donnie and they need to be fired or replaced. Like children playing ball: 'You struck me out so you can't play with us anymore. I'll just take my ball and go home.' He fires people like it's still a TV show.

VA sec Wilkie is a perfect trump lacky - praises trump and how he made the VA great.

Trump still thinks hes playing on the Apprentice He fires anyone who dont support his destruction of America Trump the most dangerous man in America spreading hate and DIVIDE

So that explains his cnn appearance yesterday.

Haha. What a shitshow.

Why would anyone accept a position in Trump's administration? All other considerations aside,there's a revolving door on his cabinet.

Two months before the election he's firing senior cabinet officials? This isn't normal.

Be prepared for “sources” stories through the end of the year

Esper isn't yes manning enough

EsperDoD White House officials have talked to Veterans Affairs Sec. Wilkie about taking top Pentagon job should President Trump decide to fire Defense Sec. Esper, 3 senior administration officials say.

I read that as 'ruining' the Pentagon.

No wonder the VA guy was on TV yesterday defending Trump against the suckers/losers story. Another Trump Toadie.

👏🏻👏🏻

If BIDEN COMUNISTA wins the elections, you will first have to share your home with Venezuelans and Cubans. Are you a masochist? Do you want this for your family?. . .

Lame duck presidents shouldn't be allowed to fire anyone.

wtzzup

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